Apparatus for dispensing soap solutions



Oct. 17, 1933. R, M. ARCHIBALD APPARATUS FOR DISPENSING SOAP SOLUTIONS Filed Jan. 13, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet l Oct. 17, 1933. R. M. ARCHIBALD 1,930,500

APPARATUS FOR DI S PEN S ING S OAP SOLUT I ONS Filed Jan. 15, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 l fg APPARATUS FOR DISPENSING- SOAP SOLUTIONS Filed Jan. 13, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Oct. 17, 1933` UNITED STATES APPARATUS Fon DISPENSING soAP SOLUTIONS Ray M. Archibald,`Chicago, Ill.

Application January 13,

11 Claims.

My invention relates to an apparatus Vfor preparing and dispensing soap or cleanser solutions for washing operations, suchV as employed i automobile cleaning establishments.

One Vof the objects of my invention is to pro- Vide an improved apparatus for preparing and dispensing the `proper solution from soap or cleanser-materials as it is used.

A further object is to provide an improved appara-tus to which a source of water supply may be connected'and which will automatically dispense aproper or desired solution of soap or cleanser-and water by the simple act of withdrawingwater from said source.

Other objects of my invention will appear hereinafter.

Referring to the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a central vertical section of a structure vembodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged section on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is adetail plan section on line 3 3 of Fig. 1;

' Fig. 4 is a detail plan section on line 4 4 of Fig. l; l

Fig. 5 is a top plan of the structure shown in Figs. l and;

Fig. 6 is a detail plan section on line 6 6 of Fig. 1;

Fig. V7 is a detail View partly in section of the structure used in connection with a Wooden drum, the View being taken substantially on line 7 7 of Fig. 6; Fig. 8 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 1 o amodied structure; and

Fig. 9 is a detail plan section on line. 9 9 of Fig. 8.

The drawings illustrate a structure which is especially designed to carry out my improved processof preparing and dispensing soap solution. This structure comprises in general the container A which contains the Soap, and the vmixing device B which dispenses the properly proportioned mixture or solution of soap and water.

. My invention is especially, though not necessarily, adapted for use in garages and washing establishments for washing automobiles, and the soap which is used in these establishments is generally shipped in metal drums or wooden barrels. The container A, although shown relatively small in proportionin the drawings, is intended to be representative of the standard drum or barrel used for this purpose. For this reason', I have constructed the mixing head B, so that it may be utilized in connection with these standard containers. i

rums or barrels usually are provided with a bung-opening in one head 2. In the case of metal drums, the bung opening is'dened by an in- 1930. seriaiNo. 420,343

ternally threaded bushing 3 secured in place, While in the case yof a wooden barrelY simply a round hole 1 in the head thereof.

The structure shown in the drawings is adapt; ed for both types of containers. For metal drums, it has an externally threaded bushing 4 which may be screwedinto the bung for mounting the mixing head in place, and Whiehfor manufacturing reasons may be a standard'reducing bushing. This bushing vis attached to the mixing head by being clamped between a shoulder in the bottom annular end member 5 and the end of the cylindrical body member 6 of the mixing and dispensing head.

The mixing and dispensing head is in general made up of the three parts, the bottom end member 5, the body member 6, andthe topiend member '7. These three parts are assembled together, end to end, and clamped by the clamping bolts 7', Figs. 1, 6, and 8, the top andV bottom end members being provided with outstanding flanges 9 and 8, respectively, havingsuitable holes for the bolts. This construction is desirable from the manufacturing and assembling standpoints and from the standpoint of making' the body member interchangeable with, a body of thetype shown in Fig. 8, hereinafter described. The rest of the parts may be the sameior both types. The bushing 4 has a large opening 10 which forms communication with the interior of the container at the top thereof. rIhe body member is divided into two Achambers or passages 11 and 12 by the upright partition Wall 13, Fig. 4. These two chambers are separated from eachother at their lower ends by the horizontal partition wall 14 which has a port or opening 15, a bossbeing formed on the partition wall into which the up per end of a long extension pipe or tube 16 is mounted. i j y The. partition wall 13' is arc-shaped at its central portion 13', so as to curve around the port opening 15. The threaded boss on the'partition Wall 14 and the tubular member 16 are less 4in diameter than the opening 10 in thebushing and are spaced therefrom to aiord ydirect communication between the chamber 11 andl the opening 10.

The top end member .'7 of the housing has a .valve chamber 17 which is connected toa source of water under pressure by means of the inlet pipe 18. A valveV or iaucet'19 is interposed'in this pipe Vto control the'flow of water therethrough and may be of any suitable or standard type by whichthe 110W of water may be turned on or shut off, as desired. f

The'valve chamber 17 is separated from the two chambers or passages 11 and 12 of the body member by means of a removable partition wall 20 which is preferably in the form of adisc clamped between theend of the body member and a suitable annular shoulder in the top end member. Gaskets 21 of any suitable type are provided to close this joint. The partition wall is preferably at and machined smooth on its upper side to form a seat for the disc valve 22. It has two arc-shaped openings or ports 23 which provide communicaiton between the valve chamber 17 and each of the chambers or passages 1l and 12 of the body member.

The disc valve 22 is seated on the upper face of the partition wall 20 and is pinned to a vertical stem 24 which has a bearing at its lower end in the partition wall 2O and at its upper end in a boss 25 in the cap member. Thisxstem extends through the top of the cap member and through a cap plate 26, and its end is then turned downwardly again into a hole in the plate 26, Figs. 1 and 8, to form a connection by which the stem 24 and the valve 22 may be rotated from the outside of the housing. The operatingA plate 26 hasa series of holes 27 which register with a pin 28 beneath the plate on the upper end of the top member of the housing. These holes and the pin serve to hold the valve in any position to which it is rotatably adjusted, andv the holes correspond .to a series of openings in the disc valve, as hereinafter described.. The operating plate 2.6 is vertically movable on the Ystem and its down-turned. end, so that it may be raised to disengage the pin 28 when it'is desired to adjust the valve, and then dropped into engagement with the selected hole. 1f desired, a suitable lock 29. may be inserted in the loop formed by the. bend in the valve stem to prevent the plate 26 from being moved upwardly and disengaged from. the pin. This is intended to prevent unauthorized` persons from interfering with the adjustment of the valve.

The valve disc is yieldingly held against its seat by a coiled spring 30 which is positioned between. ther discvalve andv the boss 25 of the top endl member, a self-adjusting bib washer 31 being provided between the spring and the boss.

The disc valve has an arc-shaped series of ports or holes 32l which register with the .arcshaped ports 23 of the partition wall 20 and form communicating passages between the Valve chamber 17 and the chambers 11 and 12, The proportion ofV Water from the valve chamber whichA flows into each of the chambers l1 and l2 through said ports 23 is thus determined. by the relative number of ports which are on the respective sides of partition'walll 13, Fig. 3.

By rotating the valve to position the port holes relatively tothe two chambers 11 and 12, the flow s of water through the two chambers 11 and l2 may be accurately proportioned.

In the structure shown in Fig. 1, the chamber l2 serves as the mixing chamber. The water from the source under pressure flows directly through thischamber 12, mixes with the soap solution coming into said chamber 12 and the mixture passes out through a nozzle 35 on the end of a pipe 36 which forms the outlet for said mixing chamber.V

The tubular extension 16 is preferably long enough to reach practically t0 the bottom of the barrelr or container when the device is in place, and at its lower end it carries a tapered point 40 which diverges to aY diameter greater than the diameter of the tube, so that the extension may be forced downwardly through the body of thesoap inthe container and form a well in the mass of soap which will be of greater diameter than the diameter of the tube.` This point l0 has a sleeve 41 which ts over the end of the tube and is fastened thereto, and it has laterally disposed ports 42.v A tubular screen 43, concentrically disposed with reference 'to the lower portion of the tubular member, is held in position between the point member 40 and a collar 44 on said tubular member. This screen is of larger diameter than the tubular extension and serves to maintain a space between Vthe tubular member and the wall of the well formed in the mass of soap. The screen, however, permits the water and soap solution to flow therethrough readily, as hereinafter described.

Soap which is used for the purposes for which this invention is especially adapted, is of two kinds, known to the trade as oil soap and powdered cleansers. Oil soap is usually made in the form of a stii jelly, whereas the Cleansers are manufacturedin dry powdered form. The oil soap jelly, is generally made sti or solid enough so that the mass thereof will be self-supporting, that is to say, it has no tendency to flow, although the mass is not hardfenough to prevent its being displaced or its form changed by the application of force. The structure shown in Fig. 1 is better adapted for use in connection with oilV soaps, whereas the structure shown in Fig. 8, hereinafter described, is better adapted for use in connection with powdered cleansers. The material is generally shipped in the containers or'barrels A which are lled with the mass to within several inches of the head in which the bung opening is provided.`

When a container of oil soap is to beput into service, the tubular extension 16 is inserted through the bung opening andY then forced vertically downwardly through the mass of soap. The bushing 4 of the mixing head is then screwed in place in the bushing 3 which forms the bung hole. This seals the container, except for the inlet and outlet formed by the passage 10 and the tubular member 16. The forcingof the point 40 of the tubular member forms a Well in the mass of soap which extends the length of the tubular member, the wall of which is spaced from the tubular member. The outlet pipe36 is then temporarilyconnected directly to the source. of water supply under pressure and water is owed into mixing chamber l2 and downwardly through the tube 16, in a direction opposite to that indicated by the arrows in Fig. 1. This temporary connection is intended to remove any soap which may haveclogged in the port 42 or forced 'itself through vthe screen 43, and also for the purpose of filling with water the well formed by the point 40 and the space between the top of the mass of soap and the head of the container.

After this is accomplished, the water supply is then disconnected from the outlet pipe 36 and is connected to the pipe 18 with the Valve 19 closed. The water in the container is allowed to standin Contact with the mass of soap for several hours, and during this period the water will dissolve a portion of the soap from the exposed walls or surfaces of the mass of soap. This dissolving process forms a rich solution which is in liquid form and therefore will flow readily. This solution, however, is too rich for washing purposes and would necessarily entail waste if it were so used. In order, therefore, to deliver or dispense a solution having the proper proportion of soap, this rich solution diluted with additional water in the mixing chamber 12 as follows: Y

In order to dispense the proper solution from the nozzle 35, the Ywater supply valve 19 is turned on and the water therefrom under pressure flows from the valve chamber 1'7 through the chambers 11 and 12. -That which flows through the chamber or passage 1l, enters the container at the top thereof and displaces the equivalent volume of soap solution 'within the container. The soap solution which is thus displacedv is forced through the ports 42and upwardly through the tubular extension into the mixing chamber where Lit meets and isv mixed with the water which flows directly from the valve chamber 17 into the mixing chamber 12 through the valve ports. c Since the valve has been set to determine'the proportion of water passing into the mixing chamber, a proper solution will be dispensed at the outlet or nozzle. Y

This operation is continued so long as the water is permitted to flow vthrough the structure, and as Along as there is a rich solution of soap in the container. 'I`hus,.the simple act of turning on the valve 19v to draw water from the nozzle automatically operates to add to the water the proper amount of soap to produceY the desired solution. The admission of water through the chamber 11 into the top of thec'ontainennecessarily thins out the solution within the container, but the dissolving operation of the soap from the mass will again take Vplace until the added water has absorbed its quota of soap fromthe mass. In practice, the solution is drawn or" from the nozzle in comparatively small quantities, one or two bucketfuls lat intervals,v and these intervals are sufficiently long enough to permit the incoming Water into the container to dissolve soap accordingly. The result is that the rich solution within the container remains practicallyv constant. In Fig. 1, the mass of soap is indicated as A-1, after the structure has been in use for a time, and part of the mass has been dissolved and dispensed. The liquidv solution is indicated as A-2, and the shaded portions A-3 are intended to illustrate the softened surface portion of the mass of soap in .contact with the water in the process of dissolving. Y

'1n Fig. 1, the bottom partition wall 14 is provided with a small port 14 which directlyoonnects the chambersll and 12. This port is providedv so that inthe event the water supply valve 19 may leak slightly, the leakage vwater, will flow through the chamber 11, through the port and thence into the outlet nozzle,y instead of passing into the container and forcing soap solution into the mixing chamber.

In the case of powdered `Cleansers only a dennite percentage will remain in solution in water, and any material in excessV of this quantity will precipitate out and settle down by gravity .if allowed to stand; hence, the solution which at the upper portion of the container will remain fairly constant in vits proportion of cleanser and water. For this reason, Iprefer to take off the solution from the upper portion of thecontainer and introduce the clear water into `the lower zone of the container. This is accomplished by the structure shown in Fig. 8, in which the connection of the chambers with the interior of the container is reversed. 'in this structure', the container ll forms the mixing chamber and communicates directly with the upper zone of the interior of the container through the port 10, whereas the chamber 12 communicates with the lower zone of the container Ythrough the tubular member 16. The mixing chamber 11' is proincoming Water anrlthus stir additional cleanser into the solution, theexcess will settle down, leaving the solution -at the vupper portion of the container practically constant. Y f f trnay be desirable yto cause the solutiondise pens-ed from the nozzle to form suds asit'flows into the bucket;` This canbe accomplished by introducing air.y into .the solution-as it leaves the nozzle, and a simple expedient for thispur pose consists, as shown iii-Fig. 1, in providing the nozzle with an air passage 35 which come rrnunicates with the atmosphere at its upper .end and with the solution leaving the lower end of the rnozzle. Hence, as the solution leaves the nozzle it draws air into itself through the passage 35', and agitation'ofthe solution falling .into tlge bucket or container causes the formation of suds.

ln order to accommodate the vstructure to woodenbarrels or containers in which-soap or cleanser materials are often shipped, I provide the bottom end member 5 of the housinglwith a tapered outer. surface 5", Fig. 7, which is adapted tobe wedged intothe'bung opening of the barrel.: The flanges'of the bottom end member has holesqthrough whichcrdinary lag screws 5" are insertedv and screwed into the wooden `head 'of the barrel to secure the structure firmly inrposition. 2 Iain aware that changes may be made in the construction, VKarrangement and operation of parts of my structure Without departing from the spirit of the invention, and I hereby reserve the rightto makefsuch' changes as fairly fall 'within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim: z Y Y 1. The combination ofa closed container` for Asoap'solution,"a mixing device having a mixing chamber connected with `an outlet of the container for receiving soap solution therefrom,

means'for directing a flow of water through said mixing chamber 'for mixing the -water and soap solutionl therein, means Afor directing a flow of water into said container to force soap solutionA from the outlet thereof into said mixing chamber, an adjustable valve controlling the flow of water through said mixing chamber and said lcontainer for proportioning the flow therethrough, means for locking said valve in its 'ad-V justable position, means forming a discharge outlet for said chamber, and means for introducing air to the solution leaving the mixing chamber.

2. The combination of a container for soap solution and a mixing device having a valve chamber connected with a soiuce of water under pressure, and having a mixing chamber and-a passage for weten-means connecting said mixing chamber and said water passage with the container at different zones therein, a disc valve between Said valve chamber and said mixing chamber and passage, and having a plurality of ports for communioation with both the mixing chamber andpassage and means for adjusting saidvalve `to vary therelative numberof ports communicating with the chamberfand `passage to proportion the flow of water through said mixing chamber and passage.

3. The combination of a closed container for soapsolution, and a mixing device comprising a housing mounted on said container and having separated chambers, means forming a port for one of` said chambers communicating with the container in one zone thereof, a tube connected to the other of said chambers and extending into saidcontainer and forming communication of said chamber with the interior of said container,

said housing having a water supply chamber con- I nected with a source of water supply under pressure, and common to both of said other chambers, and a rotary disc valve in the housing .between-said supply chamber and said other chambersfor governing the fiow of water through each of said other chambers.

4. In a structure of the class described, the combination of a housing having a chamber and two passages a wall separating said passages from each other, a partition wall connected with said Wall and separating said chamber and said passages. said partition wall having va plurality of openings communicating with each of said passages, and an adjustable disc 'valve on said partition having a plurality of openings adapted for registration with the holes in said partition to regulate the flow of water from the chamber to the passages.

5.` In a structure of the class described, the combination of a housing having a chamber and two passages, a wall separating said passages from each other, a partition wall connected with said wall yand separating said chamber and said passages, said partition wall having a plurality of openings communicating with each of said passages, an adjustable disc valve on said partition having a plurality of openings adapted for registration with the holes in said partition to regulate the ow of water from the chamber to each of Vthe passages, a spring pressing said disc against the partition wall, vand means accessible outside of said housing for `adjusting said disc.

6. The combination of a standard commercial drum for soap solution and having an opening in its head, a mixing device mounted on said drum and-comprising a housing khaving two separated chambers, one-of which 'communicates with said drum directly through said opening, a tubular Ymember mounted in said housing and extending through said head opening and communicating at `one end with the lower interior of the drum and `at the other Yend with the other of said charnrbers, a nozzle forming Aan outlet for one of said 'chamberssaid housing having a valve chamber connectedN to a source of water under pressure, and separated from both of said chambers -by a partition wall, anda valve in said housing mount- -ed on said partition wall and controlling commimication from said valve chamber to said separated chambers for regulating the ow of water therethrough.

Yopening and forced downwardly through the mass of soap to form a well in the soap larger than the tubular extension, said tubular extension having a port at its lower end and forming a conduit for the passage of soap solution, means connecting said device with a source of water supply,

means forming yan outlet for said device, `and a valve means in said device fordivertinga portion of the flow of water through said `outlet and another'portlon of the water into the upper portion of said drum to force soap solution throughfthe port and upwardly in the extension to the 4outlet 'ofthedevice Y y 18; The'cornbination of a drum container hav. ing abung lopening in its upper end and'containing a mass of soap, a mixing device adapted Kto be connectedwith said opening and having:a tubular-extension and a head on the end of said extension adatped to be inserted through the opening 'and forced downwarly'through the mass of soap to form a well in the soap larger than the tubular extension, said tubular extension having a port at its lower end and forming a Iconduit *for the passage of soap solution, means connecting said device with a source of water supply, means forming an outlet for said`device,a valve means in said device for diverting a portion of the flow of water through said outlet and anotherv portion of the water into the upper portion of said drumV to force soap solution through the port and up wardly in the extension to the outlet ofv the device, and means at the port in the lower end of said extension for preventingthe soap fromclogging Vthe port. v

9. The combination of a `suitable drum conetainer containing a mass of soap to be dissolved into a solution of water, a tubular member forming a conduit for soap solution having a port at its end and an enlarged head adapted to be forced downwardly through the massof soap to form a well in the massvlarger than the diameter of the tubular member, means for introducing water into the upper portion of said well into contact withrthe soap to dissolve the soap and for withdrawing soap solution fromthe lower portion of said well through the port and upwardly through the tubular member, and means. for mix-.- ing additional water with the'soap solutionwith-v drawn from said tubular member.

l0. The combination of 'a drum container hav.- ingan opening in itsupper end and containing a mass of soap, a tubular member insertible through said opening and downwardly through the mass of soap and having means'for forcing' the mass of soap kaway from the tubular member to form a well in the mass surrounding the 'tubular mem'- bei', said tubular member having a port communicating with said well, means for introducing water under pressure to the upper portion of said well to force soap solution from the lower portion of the well upwardly through said tubular member, and means connected with the upper portion of said tubular member for mixing additional water with the soap solution.

11. The combination of a drum container hav ing an opening'in its upper end and containing a mass of soap, a tubular member insertible through said opening and downwardly through the mass' of soap and having means for forcing the mass of soap away from the tubular member to form a well in the mass surrounding the tubular member, said tubular member having a port communicating with said well, means for introducing water under pressure to the upper portion of said well to force soap solution from the lower portion of the well upwardly throughsaid tubular. member, means connected with the upper portion of said tubular member for mixing additional water with the soap solution, anda screen device carried by said tubular member to prevent the clogging ofthe port therein. l.

RAY M. ARCHIBALD. 

